NEW ZEALANDER

Location Portland Bay VHR Number S489 Date lost 16/12/1853 Year of construction 1852

Statement of Significance

Physical Description
Construction Material	Wood
Propulsion	Sail
Number of Masts	3
Length / Breadth / Depth	174.2 Feet / 34.4 Feet / 23.0 Feet
History
Built Date	1852
Built Port / Country	Pictou / Canada
Registration Port / Country	Liverpool / England
Details	The New Zealander departed from Liverpool on the 23rd August to Australia carrying 465 assisted passengers. The immigrants were mainly Irish (103) and Scottish (362). After unloading the passengers, and 16 days in Portland, the vessel underwent an extensive refit. 18 of the original crew had to be jailed for failing to prepare for the return journey. On the 16th December, after Captain Brown had tried to muster a new crew, the ship was found ablaze at 4am. It was towed to the beach at Whalers Bluff and continued to burn. One theory at the time was that the cook set the ship alight because the crew had wanted to go ashore, whilst another theory was spontaneous combustion of the coal cargo, fuelled by the new varnish which kept the hull burning. The vessel burned for 2 to 3 weeks, and was visible for many years above the water at the foot of the lighthouse. Spruce, pine, birch, iron hanging knees, yellow metal.
Voyage Details
Date Lost	16/12/1853
Cargo	Coal
Owner	A.W. Sharp
Master of Vessel	Captain Brown
Cause of Loss	Destroyed by fire
Further Details
Number of Passengers	0
Number of Crew Members	0